David Hill (1809 – 1881)

David Hill was born 13 February 1809 in Chieveley. He was baptized on 19 February 1809 at St Mary the Virgin in Chieveley, the son of Joseph and Hannah, nee Wakefield, Hill. Charles almost certainly married Elizabeth Cook on 25 June 1830 at St James the Less in Winterbourne. Elizabeth was born circa 1812 in North Heath, which is just West of Chieveley. The only doubt about whether this is the correct marriage is when the births of their children born after 1837 were registered the mother’s maiden name was recorded as Carter.

In the 1841 census David and Elizabeth were living in Snelsmore in Chieveley with children Isaac aged 10, Rachel aged 8, Silas aged 6, Mary Ann aged 3 and Charles aged 2 months. David was recorded as an agricultural labourer.

Ten years later in the 1851 census David and Elizabeth were in Snelsmore Wood in Chieveley with children Rachel aged 18, Mary Ann aged 13, Charles aged 11, George aged 7, Eliza aged 4 and Hannah aged 3 months. David was recorded as an agricultural labourer as were Rachel, Mary Ann and Charles.

In the 1861 census David and Elizabeth were still living in Snelsmore Wood with daughters Eliza aged 14 and Hannah aged 10. David was recorded as agricultural labourer and Eliza as a house servant.

David and Elizabeth were living by themselves in Bossock Wood in Chieveley in the 1871 census with David recorded as an agricultural labourer.

Elizabeth died May 1876 and was buried on 2 June 1876 at St Mary the Virgin in Chieveley.

David was living in the Newbury Union Workhouse in the 1881 census recorded as a pauper and an agricultural labourer.

David died 8 July 1881 in Newbury Union Workhouse and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 11 July 1881. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 14 July 1881 which read as below.

HILL – July 8, at the Workhouse, Newbury, David Hill, aged 73.

Author: Gerald Soper
© FNRC